Reading Recommendations: Cozy Fantasy
A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! April’s theme is Cozy Fantasy as. Start off the Spring season with these fantasy novels that I recommend for anyone looking for a spark of magic in their books!
Legends & Lattes
Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.
However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.
If a low-stakes fantasy is your cup of tea then this book is for you. It’s a cozy and heartwarming fantasy about the birth a new coffee shop in a small town and how the business comes to life. As a coffee drinker I could appreciate how the attention detail surrounding the caffinated drinks and baked goods are described as a kind of art. Viv, through this experience, is able to try something out of her comfort zone while making new friends (and foes) along the way. By the time I finished the novel I wish I could visit this cozy cafe in real life.
Witch Hat Atelier
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…
The world-building in this fantasy story truly whisks the readers away to Coco’s world full of whimsy and wonder. Because she is young there is a naivete that surrounds her aura, but I love her willingness to learn and explore the world around her. Her energetic spirit will warm the reader’s hearts as she does her best to navigate her journey as a witch. The artwork is stunning and there is so much detail in each panel.
Rebel in Library of Ever
Lenora returns to the magical Library―which holds every book ever known on its shelves. But she discovers the Library is under new management, its incredible rooms and corridors turned dark and sinister. She quickly connects with a secret resistance that’s trying to free knowledge from the shadows threatening it. Her new friends introduce her to an ancient lost city, hang-gliding, and mathematical beings larger than the universe itself. And they help her face the mysterious Board of new leaders―who are leading the Library into darkness.
This is a fun book that explores the word of libraries with a fun fantasy twist. really enjoy how the parts of the library open new doors to other worlds (literally and figuratively). When a patron has a question for the librarian, they are unable to answer it turns into a greater quest for knowledge. They get to interact with other beings/librarians to help them solve the questions. I haven’t read the first book in the series but i found it easy to follow along with. (Review)
Alice In Kyoto Forest
Orphaned at a young age, Alice has lived with her aunt for most of her childhood. But her uncle is abusive and resentful, and at fifteen years old, Alice decides to return home to Kyoto and train as a maiko, eventually hoping to become a geisha. But when she returns to the city where she was born, she finds that Kyoto has changed quite a bit in the eight years since she left it. Almost as if it’s a completely different world…
Alice in Kyoto is a charming retelling of the popular tale Alice in Wonderland, except the story is set in 1800s Japan. Following our main character Alice, who shares some similarities with the Classic novel she sets out for a new beginning after leaving her uncle’s house. Alice is taken aback by all the mystical creatures, people, clothing, and surroundings but tries to adjust the best as she can. Though Kyoto seems to accept her she is still confronted by finding out what her heart desires and what her true purpose is in order to stay there.
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn’t like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can’t control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt’s bakery making gingerbread men dance.
But Mona’s life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona’s city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona’s worries…
This novel reads equally like YA Fantasy fiction and a cozy mystery. It’s action-packed, filled with fun fantasy elements, lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, and characters that you can root for. The story is told through Mona’s eyes as she tries to unravel the mystery as well as keep a low profile to keep her loved ones safe. The novel is immersive and allows the reader to get immersed in the story. It’s a world full of wizards of varying skills, an historical setting, and all the coziness a fresh baked good brings. (Review)
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf
Anyone else ever thrown a drink at someone’s head, only to miss entirely and hit a stranger behind them? Then have that stranger fall madly in love with you because it turned out that drink you threw was a love potion? No, just me? Well damn. Dealing with a pirate ship full of demons that just moved into town was hard enough. Now on top of it, I have to convince a werewolf that I’m not his fated mate, he’s just drugged. Easier said than done.
Though I have to say, having a gorgeous man show up and do all of your chores while telling you you’re beautiful isn’t the worst thing to happen to a girl.
The title of this novel alone is enough to really sum up this novel. It’s wacky, fun, and full of steamy romance bits. The Mead Mishaps series is a bit outlandish at times but that’s what makes it such a joy to read. The book is filled with humor to keep you laughing throughout the entire novel and the characters are lovable. While some aspects of this book are action-packed at it’s core it’s a low stakes romance fantasy. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
That concludes my reading recommendations for books with cozy fantasy! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!
this is such a great list, I might have to put rebel in the library of ever on my tbr!!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the recs.